Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of Congo has leveled fresh accusations against Rwanda, claiming the neighboring country is disrupting civilian air traffic in the volatile eastern region through GPS jamming.
The Congolese government asserted in a statement on Monday that Rwanda is interfering with aircraft GPS signals via “jamming” and “spoofing,” a sophisticated cyberattack technique. This, they contend, poses a serious threat to both commercial and humanitarian flights delivering critical aid to conflict-affected populations.
The accusation comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with Kinshasa alleging that Rwanda supports the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali has repeatedly denied. A United Nations report released earlier this month corroborated Congo’s claims, estimating that up to 4,000 Rwandan troops are operating in the eastern DRC to bolster the M23.
The Congolese government has conducted a “technical investigation” confirming that the GPS jamming originates from the Rwandan army and the M23 rebels, in defiance of international law. While the exact extent of the disruption remains unclear, authorities have identified North Kivu province, including its capital Goma, as a primary target. The neighboring territories of Beni and Butembo have also been impacted.
In response, the DRC has lodged a formal complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), seeking punitive measures against Rwanda.
The ongoing conflict in eastern DRC has triggered a humanitarian crisis, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes. Despite multiple peace initiatives and the deployment of UN and regional peacekeeping forces, violence persists.
Rwanda has yet to publicly respond to the latest accusations.
